• A value is something that we think is very important
and worthwhile.
• Do any of these values apply to you?
o To be popular.
o To have lots of money.
o To have lots of friends.
o To be respected.
o To get good exam results.
o To have a nice car.
o To be good at sports.
o To be happy and content.
o To have a strong faith.
• Our values affect the way we think, what
we say, and how we behave.
• Our values are not acquired by accident,
we get our values from other people.
• Can you think of any examples of where
these values come from?
1. Facts
6. Decision 2. Options
Steps in
Moral
Decision-
making…
5. Prayer 3. Advice
4. Values
The class organise a school fundraising event
for the victims of a natural disaster. Everyone
works hard, and it is a great success. You and
your friends are the principal organisers. You
count and bag the money, and a teacher
drives you down to the bank. The cashier
weighs the bags and tells you the total. There is
a shortfall of €25, one bag is missing. You have
your suspicions, although you didn’t actually
see anyone take it. The gift cheque must be
presented to the relief organisation by the end
of the week. What do you do?
A school trip is coming up. Everyone is
looking forward to it. There is a visit to an
exhibition and then a stop at a leisure
centre on the way back. The teacher reads
out the list of those who have paid so far.
Your name is called out. You know you
haven’t paid. The money is still in your
pocket as you brought it in this morning.
What do you do?
You have seen a pair of football boots in a sale and
you really want them. You have enough money
saved, but you were planning to use some of that
to go out at the weekend with your friends. If you
buy the boots you’ll have nothing left. That evening
at home you overhear your mum telling your
brother/sister that she has left the money for the
schoolbooks he//she needs in an envelope in their
schoolbag and that they better not lose it. You and
your brother/sister do not get on very well. You think
that he/she is a real know-it-all and they always
make fun of your friends. If you took the money,
you would have enough to buy the football boots
and go out with your friends at the weekend. What
do you do?
You could not
Families would
have close
not function if
friends if you
the parents
lied constantly
simply ignored
and stole from
their children!
them!
Society would
totally collapse if
people ignored
their duties
towards others.
Can you think of
any examples??
• The home and family play an important
part in influencing our moral outlook.
• Our parents were the first people to teach
us the difference between right and wrong.
• As children we learnt that it is good to
share our toys, to always tell the truth and
not hit other children.
• As we grow older we begin to be
influenced by others outside the home.
• Going to school, making friends and mixing
with other children our own age meant we
encountered different types of values.
• Therefore it can be said that our friends
and peers also play an important role in
influencing our moral outlook.
• People’s moral outlook is strongly influenced by
the religion in which they have been brought
up.
• Many young people go to schools with a
religious ethos where they are educated in
their faith.
• Therefore the values they have received at
home are reinforced by the teachings and
practices of their religion.
• The State plays an important role in deciding
our moral outlook.
• The State passes the laws of the country.
• Society also plays an important role in
influencing our moral outlook as it can decide
what is accepted as good or bad.
• Usually when the majority of society behave in
a certain way then that behaviour can
become acceptable.
• We can be influenced by our emotions to
behave in certain ways.
• This can have a positive impact on us in
situations where we are moved by sympathy or
compassion to help somebody in need.
• However, emotions can also provide us with
negative outcomes when we are driven by
anger or hatred when responding to certain
situations.
• Moral issues are not always simply a matter
of stating what is right and what is wrong.
• Morality is about human beings and
their relationships.
• We must remember that many factors
can influence the way people behave.
